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Do you know what it takes to keep your home heating system working efficiently? Most people know that the filters need to be changed from time to time, but exactly when should you be changing them? What type of filter should you be using? Is there anything else that homeowners can do to ensure that the system they rely on to heat and cool their homes operates using as little energy as possible? My blog will show you all sorts of things about maintaining your home heating and cooling system. In the end, you will know just what to do to take care of your home's system.

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Due to the different tasks to maintain your investment, owning a home can be challenging. However, proper cleaning and maintenance ensures that your home remains valuable, functional, and efficient. Considering that an estimated 48 percent of your home's total energy usage stems from heating and cooling, understanding and maintaining your heating and air conditioner is smart. Using this guide of common HVAC terms, you will have a better understanding of your home's heating and cooling operation and energy efficiency.

Tonnage

Your system tonnage is not referring to its weight, but it does signify the capacity of your air conditioner system. Proper tonnage is necessary to ensure that the system is cooling in an efficient manner. If you system does not have an adequate amount of tonnage, it will utilize more energy to cool your home.

Each ton removes approximately 12,000 British Thermal Units, or BTUs, or heat from inside the home each hour. Since every square foot of your home needs 25 BTUs to cool efficiently, a 2000 square foot house will need 50,000 BTUs or at least a 4-ton unit.

SEER

It is not the name of a department store, but SEER refers to Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration. This number represents your system's total efficiency. For a more efficient system, opt for system with a higher SEER rating.

Heating and air systems with a higher SEER are more expensive, but the reduction in your heating and cooling costs and the environmental conservation aspect makes it a worthwhile investment.

R-22

If your air conditioning seems to struggle cooling during the hot temperatures of summer, it may be low on R-22. R-22, or Freon, is not the name of a droid from your favorite science fiction movie, but it is actually a refrigerant that absorbs and releases heat to allow the system to cool. Without sufficient refrigerant, your system will not cool the home efficiently.

Of course, R-22 is not the only type of refrigerant available. Since it contains chlorine, it can pollute the environment, so many HVAC contractors and homeowners are opting for a less toxic refrigerant, such as R-407c. If considering this non-ozone depleting refrigerant, your contractor will need to complete a retrofit on the system. This may increases costs, but it will be an energy efficient, eco-friendly investment.